Hua Zhi didn't eat much at noon and was a little hungry, so she didn't stay in bed and called for someone to come in and serve her.
The one who came in was Nian Qiu. She almost screamed when she saw a man. After seeing who it was, she covered her chest and gasped. If it was someone else, she would definitely rush forward and fight desperately, but she felt relieved because he was Mr. Lu. They could see the relationship between him and the young lady without him having to say it explicitly.
What's more, the lady's attitude is clear to all, so they just need to follow her orders.
"Go get some food, Yan Xi, have you had dinner yet?"
“No.”
"More servings."
Nian Qiu stepped back in response. When he reached the door, he glanced back secretly and saw the tall man squatting down to put shoes on the young lady. The young lady lowered her head and looked at him with a smile. Nian Qiu remembered this scene for many, many years.
During the meal, Gu Yanxi mentioned Haoyue's matter. Hua Zhi raised her eyebrows, "Come to the capital? Aren't you worried that she will cause more chaos in the royal family?"
"She has no chance." Gu Yanxi put a piece of food into Ah Zhi's bowl and said slowly, "If she makes any unusual move, I will kill her. Compared to her prophecies, she herself is more dangerous."
Hua Zhi nodded in agreement. The identity chosen by Haoyue was indeed too dangerous in the eyes of those in power. Such a person would rather be destroyed than fall into the hands of others. I wonder how confident Haoyue was to dare to approach Yan Xi so brazenly.
After taking a look at Yan Xi, Hua Zhi lowered her head to eat. If Hao Yue was really a reborn person, it was very likely that Yan Xi would survive the turmoil and get the greatest power, the throne? Would the emperor pass the throne to Yan Xi instead of his son? Would the prince recognize it? Would the ministers recognize it? If they really recognized it, what was the situation of the Daqing Dynasty at that time
Haoyue must know all this, but she won't tell anyone because this is her bargaining chip unless Yan Xi marries her.
If it were those princes, they would probably agree immediately, but Yan Xi would not. He hated this kind of coercion and had no ambition. Moreover, he loved himself. This man was hurt too deeply by his father and would definitely not follow his father's old path.
"When you are free, come with me to see her."
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't realize she had taken a big bite of rice. Hua Zhi looked up with her cheeks puffed up and a look of surprise on her face.
Gu Yanxi laughed and raised his hand to wipe her mouth.
Covering her mouth and swallowing the food, Hua Zhi hurriedly asked, "Take me with you? Is it okay?"
"It's just for listening. It's okay. This Haoyue always gives me a sense of disharmony, but I can't find out what's wrong with her. Can you take a look for me?"
Hua Zhi understood what he meant by the sense of incongruity, but she couldn't explain it. She couldn't say that Haoyue had lived a lifetime and was now living again. If she said something this mysterious, Yan Xi would probably ask her how she knew it.
"How about tomorrow afternoon?"
"Okay, I'll let Chen Qing arrange it. Have some soup."
Hua Zhi obediently drank half a bowl of soup, then suddenly thought of something and looked up and said, "Do you have any news about Berlin and the others? I haven't had time to ask Yingchun yet, and I don't know if that boy has sent a letter."
"They are in Xiangyang."
"Xiangyang? How did they..."
"It should be Xiaoliu's idea. He must have seen some of the preparations we made at the time, so it's no wonder he wanted to go and take a look. Don't worry, they are all fine and have made great progress. Seeing with their own eyes how the outside world is is more useful than any great scholar's teachings. I will secretly let them participate in the disaster relief this time, but they must not show their faces. It is not yet time for them to show their talents."
Hua Zhi nodded in understanding. It was indeed true. If she showed up now, she would probably be targeted by her brothers.
Gu Yanxi put down the bowl and said in a low but serious voice: "The emperor may be interested in building the Lingzhou Grand Canal."
"You should know that now is not the time." Hua Zhi said anxiously. Now they are facing external and internal troubles. If they start such a big project at this time, the Daqing court will be dragged to death, just like the Sui Dynasty back then.
"He didn't say it explicitly. When he returned to Beijing yesterday, he said he had accomplished nothing. That's why I guessed that if he could build a Grand Canal, it would benefit the country and future generations. Only then would he have the face to meet his ancestors."
"What if Daqing Chao is dragged to death? Will he be reduced to ashes and never see his ancestors?"
He really dares to say anything. I don't know where he got the courage from. Gu Yanxi smiled helplessly, "So he is waiting for an opportunity."
Hua Zhi is not an impulsive person after all. She has calmed down after a while. "If we solve the problem of the Chaoli tribe and build the Grand Canal, it is not a bad idea. With the foundation of Daqing Dynasty, we can afford it even if it costs money and manpower. But if we make a move before that, Yan Xi, the Chaoli tribe is not stupid at all now. This is Daqing handing over the country to others."
"How could the emperor not know what you and I both know, but he still has this idea. I could persuade him before, but now it's getting harder and harder. After all, he is the king and I am the subject. I can't bypass him and make decisions for him. I can't bear the consequences of that."
In front of Ah Zhi, Gu Yanxi took off the hard shell that seemed to be able to withstand anything. He held Ah Zhi's hand and smiled softly, "I cherish my life now."
Hua Zhi suddenly felt distressed when she saw this man who shouldered so many things. She stood up, walked to Yan Xi, hugged his head, and let him lean on her to rest for a while. She knew that the emperor was like a father figure in his growth process, and he would give his all but would often feel powerless.
A tiger so old that its teeth are almost falling out still wants to use its king pattern and its body to intimidate all creatures before it takes its last breath. Even though it can't even bite meat, it will never forget that it is the king and will even pretend to be more ferocious because of this.
The emperor is like this now, but he is more terrifying than a toothless tiger, because he holds the imperial power that can decide life and death. Even if he has no teeth, he can still cause rivers of blood with just one word.
The emperor is now in the most dangerous situation, but they can do nothing about it. They can neither escape nor stop him.
Gu Yanxi leaned against the soft body behind him, his heart full of warmth, without any desire. He kissed the palm of his hand and said, "Don't worry, the emperor still trusts me. I will find a way to delay him as long as possible."
Hua Zhi looked down at the jade crown on Yan Xi's head, "My life was so smooth fifteen years ago, and I don't know why it suddenly became a mess. The Daqing Dynasty was in its heyday, and I thought I could live a peaceful and stable life."
"Now that you mention it, I'm glad there was such a mess, otherwise we wouldn't even have the chance to get to know each other."
It's not that there is no chance, Hua Zhi sighed, "It's only been a year, but it feels like I've done something that should have taken me a lifetime to do."
"Except for you, no one else can do these things in their lifetime." Gu Yanxi looked up, "Once these things are done, we will do nothing else. We can travel around or stay in a house reading books and painting. I will accompany you."
That kind of life is exactly what she wants, but, "Let's get through these difficulties first."